Thermopump system



sept. 11, 1962 Filed Feb. :2.1. 195s lriiilh'lfil H. E. STAEHLE ETAL THERMOPUMP SYSTEM 5 Sheets-Sheet l INV ENTOR.

`H.E. STAEHLE J- K. SIDnLE Bgm/f Sept 11, 1932 H. E. STAEHLE ETAL l 3,053,198

THERMOPUMP SYSTEM Filed Feb. 2l., 1958 lll INVENTOR. H.E. STAEHLE BY J-K. SIDDLE M/o/Mf@ ATTORNEY Sept l1, 1962 H. E. STAEHLE ETAL 3,053,198

THERMOPUMP SYSTEM Filed Feb. 21, 1958 5 Sheets-Shes?l 3 INVENTOR. vH.E.S1mar.mna BY J. K. SmoLE ATTCRNEY 3,53,l98 Patented Sept. 11, 1962 3,053,198 'HERB/10P SYSTEM Haswell E. Staehle, Columbus, and lohn K. Siddle, Canal Winchester, Ohio, assignors, by mesne assignments, to Midland-Ross Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Feb. 21, 1958, Ser. No. 716,636 14 Claims. (Cl. 1113-255) This invention relates to a thermopump system which is particularly adapted to deliver a continuous flow of liquid being pumped, and to do so at higher pressures and better eciency than heretofore known with thermopumps.

The commercial application of thermopumps has been suffering for many years from limitations of eiciency and liquid delivery pressure. While the basic principles of a thermopump were shown in U.S. patent to Thayer 47,051 issued in 1865, continual improvement through U.S. patent to Kleen 2,757,618 still attempts to improve cyclic ow apparatus while contending with the loss of effective use of steam at the start and end of each cycle, during which the apparatus vshifts from a liquid delivery phase to a liquid recovery (condensation) phase, and vice-versa.

In known thermopumps, as the steam expansion cycle reaches completion and steam escapes, as through a steam trap, to a condensation chamber, pressure in the steam generating or vaporizing chamber drops, causing a flash generation of steam fro-m the vaporizing chamber. Also, there is usually a continuing application of heat to the vaporizing liquid during this condensing cycle. These factors produce steam (or vapor) called parasitic steam herein, which is not usefully employed in the pumping cycle to pump liquid, and in fact contributes greatly to the non-functioning referred to in Patent 2,757,618 above noted because it must be condensed and may require more cool water than is available for the purpose.

This invention applies to a thermopump system a single, continuous vapor generator in conjunction with a plurality of pumping and condensing systems in a manner to substantially eliminate the undesirable effects of parasitic steam and enabling a thermopump system to eciently and continuously pump a liquid against higher pressures than prior art systems. The preferred form of the apparatus embodying this thermopump system so efectively organizes the relative positions and functions of the elements thereof that considerably more etfective use of space results, contributing greatly to the effective use of the apparatus in vehicles where space, weight or efficiency is at a premium.

For a further consideration of what we believe to be novel and our invention attention is directed to the following portion of the specication, and the drawings and concluded claims thereof.

FIGURE l is a sectional view of preferred apparatus according to this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a schematic diagram of simplified apparatus according to the invention.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view of FIGURE 1 taken through line 3 3.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view of FIGURE l taken through line 4 4.

FIGURE 5 is a bottom View of the apparatus of FIG- URE 1.

The schematic diagram of FIGURE 2 illustrates thermopump apparatus having a vapor generating chamber 1-1 supplied with heat by a heating coil 12, pumping chambers 13 and 14 interconnected to the chamber 11 by upper ducts 15 and 16 and by lower ducts 17 and 18, and condensing chambers 21 and 22 interconnected to the pumping chambers by lower ducts 23 and 24 and U-shaped upper (steam trap) small ducts 25 and 26.

In the operation of FIGURE 2 apparatus, liquid, in this oase generally referred to as water (although other liquids such as water-glycol or water-alcohol mixtures may commonly be used), in the vaporizing chamber is continuously subjected to heat from a heating coil and delivers steam (or vapor) to a reversing ball valve 27 whose ball 28 is shown at the left after a pumping cyole in pumping chamber 13. This pumping cycle has just ended with the escape of steam around the trap in the small duct 25, and up into the condensing chamber 21.

As the steam from the duct 25 condenses, the pressure in the chamber 21 drops rapidly from the operational delivery pressure, which in this improved apparatus may be easily 2O p.s.i.g., to the pressure corresponding to the vapor pressure of the Vapor liquid system at the temperature of the cooling liquid in the condensing chamber after the condensing cycle. This reduction of pressure closes a check valve 31 in an outlet, or delivery, duct 32 from the condensing chamber, and it moves the ball 28 in the reversing ball Valve 27 to the left to snap the duct 15 closed and start `delivery of steam to the other duct 16 leading to pumping chamber 14, preventing liquid from entering the vaporizing chamber during the condensing cycle by continuous supply of steam therefrom to the valve 27. A check valve 33 in duct 17 is also held closed by the drop in pressure in the chamber 13 -andthe loss of :the volume of steam in the pumping chamber 13 is replaced by an inflow of water from a return duct 34 through a check valve 35 therein, and through the condensing chamber 21 and the lower duct 23. Since the chambers 21 and 13 are now sealed from the chamber 11, they are not subject to continued heating from parasitic steam, and the volume of cooling water space in the condensing chamber 2.1 may accordingly be quite small in comparison to prior practice.

Steam from the generating chamber 11 passes through upper duct 16 to pumping chamber 14 and builds pressure therein rapidly to the system delivery pressure, and water is displaced through duct 24 and condensing chamber 22, and through a check valve 36 int-o the delivery duct 32. To avoid loss of etliciency, an insulating float 37 in the pumping chamber is used to reduce the cooling and condensing of steam in the pumping chamber. The pressure in this pumping cycle is contained by check valve 33 in duct 17 and check valve 42 in return duct 34. As the water level in pumping chamber 14 starts to fall, water is delivered through valve 36 to the delivery duct 32. To accommodate changes in total volume of the system an expansion chamber 43 is inserted, preferably in the delivery duct 32 as shown. Water from the delivery duct, warmed by the condensing cycle, is delivered to the desired apparatus 44, which may be the cooling system of a vehicle engine, and is returned by the duct 34. As the liquid level in pumping chamber 14 drops to the bottom of the trap in duct 26, the steam escapes to the condensing chamber 22 and the cycle reverses as before. 'Ihe supply of water to be vaporized in the chamber 11 is replaced at the `start of the pumping cycle by the hydrostatic U-tube effect, the static head in the pumping chamber 13 now full with its float 38 at the top, driving liquid through check valve 33 and duct 17 into chamber 11.

Since the volume of liquid required to generate the steam for each pumping cycle is small the volume of liquid in the chamber 11 is kept at a minimum for the purpose.

The foregoing describes the continuous ilow thermopump system in principle, and its preferred embodiment 0 into physical apparatus will now be described in connection with a unit designed for extremely compact space requirements on vehicles for standby operation, to keep supply chamber.

3 engines and batteries warm `for instant starting operation. fFIGURE 1, together with FIGURES 3, 4, and 5 show aY continuous flow thermopump designed to additionally heat the liquid being pumped, and it accordingly contains 'a specially designed combustion and liquid heating system.

In FIGURE 1 the apparatus is designed in a generally vertical cylindrical shape, dividediby separable gasketed flange joints 51 and 52 into an upper, condensing section, an intermediate, liquid heating section, and a lower, pumping section. This design makes possible combinations of various sizes of components for various uses, some of which may, for example, require more heat input in the liquid heating center section than others. A To simplify the understanding of FIGURE l appara,- t'u's, the essential chambers and functional parts Vcorresponding to those described in FIGURE 2 are given corresponding numbers. Hence in the top, o'r condensing section, there is a condenser 22 having an inlet, check valve 42, and the outlet check valve 36 is, for reasons to presently appear, shown at the bottom of Vthe apparatus. A second condensing chamber 21, with its inlet check valve 35, is shown at the top, and its outlet check valve 31 is at the bottom of the pumping section opposite the other valve 36. As shown more clearly in FIGURE 3, but with lines for water omitted for clarity, chambers 22 and 21 are diyided by a common wall 60.

Below the lower flanged joint 52, the vaporizing chamber 11 is formed -by concentric cylindrical walls 53, 54, the inner wall 53 also forming combustion chamber 90 for burning fuel in a burner 57 schematically shown.

VThe fuel supplied by pipe 58, FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 will ordinarily be the vehicle fuel, such as gasoline. Surrounding the vaporizing chamber 11 are the pumping chambers '1,4 and 13 divided by a common wall 61 more clearly shown lin FIGURE 4. 'I'he tioats 37 and 3S are shown in positions corresponding to those in FIGURE 2. Pump- Ving chamber 14 is interconnected to the vaporizing charnber 11 by upper duct 16 and reversing ball valve 27 and by lower duct 18` and ball check valve 41 therein. The pmping chamber 14 is connected to the condensing chamber 22 by a steam trap duct 26 which'discharges through a distribution ring yor manifold 62 having ports 63 therein. v l

Pumping chamber 13 is interconnected to the Vaporizing chamber 11 by upper duct l5 and reversing ball valve 27 (and duct 64 with an orice outlet 67) and by lower duct 17 and vball check valve 33 therein. VThe pumping vchamber 13 is connected to the condensing chamber 21 by a steam trap duct 25 which discharges through a disl tzibution 'ring or manifold 66 having ports 65 therein.

I'he apparatus of FIGURES (l, 3, 4, and 5 is started by deliyring fuel to the burner 57 and igniting the same, as by vspark ignition or torch. Air for combustion enters the bottom of the combustion chamber 90, initially from 4"the end of the last prior operation and subsequently by action of a fan impeller 71. VPart of the air for combustion is delivered between the bottom closure 56 for the vaporizing chamber 11 and the fan impeller 71,'but mostly it is delivered upwardly between the outer wall 54 and a cylindrical wall 72 which is joined to the top clos- Yir'e v55 of the vapor generating chamber 11' to form an air Tubes 73 extending between walls 53 and 54 pass combustion air from the air supply chamber,

through the vaporY generatlng chamber 11 and into the combustion chamber 90 whe-rerit burns withpthe fuel Irom the burner 57. Y

Products of combustion from the combustion 'chamber 90 pass upwardly through a duct 74 having gas deflectors 75 attached to the outer surface thereof, so that as flue gasleaves the center of duct 74 and passes downward Y between the duct 74 and a liquid heating chamber 76, the

deflectors 75 cause the gasto repeatedly scrub the wall of the liquid heating chamber, thus heating liquid therein. The flue gas then passes on downward between the cylin- 4 drical wall 72 and the pumping chambers 13 and 14 and is vented through a vent duct ,77.

The apparatus of FIGURES l, 3, 4, and 5 is shown in the same condition as the schematic diagrams of FIG- URE 2. The vapor generated in chamber 11 has passed through the pumping chamber 13 and through the steam trap of duct 25, through the ports of manifold 66 and is condensing in the condensing chamber 21. The ball 28 of the reversing ball valve 27 has moved to shut oft duct 15, and ball 3S has raised off its seat to allow the intiow of return liquid from duct 34. The liquid which ilows into the condensing chamber 21 is the coolest in the system, and after condensing the vapors it moves through an oriiice 84 to a heating chamber 76 where it is heated by hot gases from duct 74 and dellectors 75. This heated liquid passes by a duct 73 to the bottom lof the pumping chamber 13, and ows into the pumping chamber under the oat 38 as the vapor therein condenses. Duct 7S of FIG. 1 corresponds generally to duct 23 of the schematic diagram of FIG. 2 except that heater 76 has been included in the duct circuit 78 of FIG. l and not in duct 23 of FIG. 2. For comparison purposes, the combination of duct 7 8 and heater 76 are numbered 23 in FIG. l. Immediately upon moving of the ball 2S to the left y-side of the reversing valve 27, vapors generated in chamber 11 pass through duct 16 into the other pumping chamber 14 and force liquid, by depressing float 3 7 downward and out through valve 36 and into the inlet 81 of a turbine 82. The turbine is a metering type, or looded, turbine, and discharges to the fluid outlet 32. The turbine 82 carries permanent magnets 83 which act upon the blower impeller 71 to drive it. Since this type of liquid turbine can deliver suilicient power, the blower may be geared up to the desired speed. An alternative construction may directly couple the turbine and blower, but requires liquid seals on the shaft which may be a source of leakage.

As the pumping cycle for chamber 14 is completed steam escapes through the trap of duct 26, manifold 62 and ports 63 into the condensing chamber 22, whereupon condensing it causes ball 28 to move :to the right side of reversing valve 27 to start the next pumping cycle while, due to condensing in chamber 22, check valve 41 is closed and valve 42 opens to intiow of cool liquid which, after doing its share of condensing, passes through the restricted orice S5, through a heating chamber 86 then through duct S7 to the bottom of the pumping chamber 14 where is lreplaces liquid just pumped out and stands ready for 'the next pumping cycle. Duct 87 of FIG. 1 corresponds generally to duct 24 of the schematic diagram of FIG. 2 except that heater 86 has been included in the duct circuit 87 of FIG. 1 and not in duct 24 of FIG. 2. For comparison purposes, the combination of duct 87 and heater 86 are numbered 24 in FIG. 1. Y

The pressure during the condensing cycles will depend upon the temperature of the returning liquid in duct 34, and the corresponding vapor pressure of the liquid, but during condensation this will ordinarily be subatmospheric. When the rapid condensing cycle is completed, the pressure in that portion of the system will rise. Thus parasitic steam generation is substantially eliminated, by promptly switching steam (or vapor) delivery from one pumping chamber to the other at the start of a condensing cycle.

We claim: V Y

r1. In a thermopump, in combination:V a vaporzng chamber; conduit means for supplying a liquid to said ,vapon'zing chamber to be vaporized therein; iirst and ber to said second condensing chamber; rst and second lower ducts connecting respectively the lower portion of said first pumping and condensing chambers and the lower portions of said second pumping and condensing chambers; inlet and outlet ducts connected to said iirst and second condensing chambers; a check valve in each said inlet and outlet duct; and means for supplying heat to liquid in said vaporizing chamber to vaporize liquid therein.

2. In a thermopump according to claim 1 said conduit means for adding a liquid to said vaporizing chamber comprises, rst and second lower interconnecting ducts connecting said vaporizing chamber to said rst and second pumping chambers; and check valves in each of said lower interconnecting ducts for preventing flow of liquid from said vaporizing chamber.

3. In a thermopump according to claim 1, duct means comprising a liquid expansion chamber interconnecting said inlets and said outlets.

4. Thermopump apparatus comprising, in combination: wall means forming a substantially vertical, annular vaporizing chamber with a central cylindrically shaped combustion chamber, a portion of said wall means dening a common cylindrical wall serving as the vertical wall of the combustion chamber and the inner vertical wall of the annular Vaporizing chamber; a pumping chamber disposed concentrically about at least a portion of said vaporizing chamber, said vaporizing chamber and said pumping chamber being spaced radially from each other to form therebetween a gas passage for the flow of products of combustion therethrough; a vent connected to the bottom of said gas passage for venting products of combustion therefrom; wall means forming a heating chamber having an annular portion vertically aligned with said pumping chamber and secured thereabove and having a central cylindrical portion in uid communication with said combustion chamber and said gas passage; closure means located at the top of said central cylindrical portion of the heating chamber to prevent the escape of tlue gas from the top of the center of said heating chamber; a condensing chamber secured above said heating chamber; a burner arranged to release products of combustion in said combustion chamber to supply heat thereto and to direct the products of combustion into the central cylindrical portion of the heating chamber thereabove, said products of combustion passing from said central portion of said heating chamber, through said gas passage and out said vent; conduit means interconnecting said vaporizing chamber and said pumping chamber to supply vapor from said vaporizing chamber to said pumping chamber; conduit means for supplying a liquid to said vaporizing chamber to be vaporized therein; a U-shaped duct connecting said pumping chamber to said condensing chamber; au interconnection between said condensing chamber and the annular portion of said heating chamber; an interconnection between the annular portion of said heating chamber and said pumping chamber; inlet duct means comprising a check valve for supplying liquid to said condensing chamber; and an outlet duct means comprising a check valve in Huid communication with said condensing chamber for delivering liquid therefrom.

5. Thermopump apparatus comprising, in combination: wall means forming a substantially vertical, annular vaporizing chamber with a central cylindrically shaped combustion chamber, a portion of said wall means defining a common cylindrically wall serving as the vertical wall of the combustion chamber and the inner vertical wall of the annular vaporizing chamber; a pumping chamber disposed concentrically about at least a portion of said vaporizing chamber, said vaporizing chamber and said pumping chamber being spaced radially from each other to form therebetween an air supply chamber; a series of tubular ducts extending through said vaporizing chamber for supply air for combustion from said air supply chamber to said combustion chamber; means for supplying air for combustion to said air supply chamber; wall means forming a heating chamber having an annular portion vertically aligned with said pumping chamber and secured thereabove and having a central cylindrical portion in iluid communication with said combustion chamber; a condensing chamber secured above said heating chamber; a burner arranged to release products of combustion in said combustion chamber to supply heat thereto and to direct the products `of combustion into the central cylindrical portion of the heating chamber thereabove; conduit means interconnecting said vaporizing chamber and said pumping chamber to supply vapor from said Vaporizing chamber to said pumping chamber; conduit means for supplying a liquid to said Vaporizing chamber to be Vaporized therein; a U-shaped duct connecting said pumping chamber to said condensing chamber; an interconnection between said condensing chamber and the annular portion of said heating chamber an interconnection between t'ne annular portion of said heating chamber and said pumping chamber; inlet duct means comprising a check valve for supplying liquid to said condensing chamber; and an outlet duct means comprising a check Valve in fluid communication with said condensing chamber for delivering liquid therefrom.

6. Thermopump apparatus comprising, in combination: Wall means forming a substantially vertical, annular vaporzing chamber with a central cylindrically shaped combustion chamber, a portion of said wall means dening a common cylindrical wall serving as the vertical wall of the combustion chamber and the inner vertical wall of the annular vaporizing chamber; a pumping chamber disposed concentrically about at least a portion of said vaporizing chamber; wall means forming a heating chamber having an annular portion vertically aligned with said pumping chamber and secured thereabove and having a central cylindrical portion in fluid communication with said combustion chamber; a condensing chamber secured above said heating chamber; a burner arranged to release products of combustion in said combustion chamber to supply heat thereto and to direct the products of combustion into the central cylindrical portion of the heating chamber thereabove; an air impeller for supplying air for combustion to said burner; a liquid turbine operatively connected to drive said air impeller; conduit means interconnecting said vaporizing chamber and said pumping chamber to supply vapor from said vaporizing chamber to said pumping chamber; conduit means for supplying a liquid to said vaporizing chamber to be vaporized therein; a U-shaped duct connecting said pumping chamber to said condensing chamber; an interconnection between said condensing chamber and the annular portion of said heating chamber; an interconnection between the annular portion of said heating chamber and said pumping chamber; inlet duct means comprising a check valve for supplying liquid to said condensing chamber; an outlet duct means comprising a check valve in tluid communication with said condensing chamber for delivering liquid therefrom; and duct means for passing liquid from said outlet duct means through said turbine.

7. Thermopump apparatus comprising, in combination: wall means forming a substantially vertical, annular vaporizing chamber with a central cylindrically shaped combustion chamber, a portion of said wall means defining a common cylindrical wall serving as the vertical wall of the combustion chamber and the inner vertical wall of the annular vaporizing chamber; a pumping chamber disposed concentrically about at least a portion of said vaponzing chamber; wall means forming a heating chamber having an annular portion vertically aligned with said pumping chamber and secured thereabove and havin-g a central cylindrical portion in fluid communication with said combustion chamber, said heating and pumping chambers being fastened by separable joints; a condensing chamber secured above said heating chamber, said condensing and heating chambers being fastened by separable joints; a burner arranged to release products of combustion in said combustion chamber to supply heat thereto and to direct the products of combustion into the central cylindrical portion of the heating chamber thereabove; conduit means interconnecting said vapoiizing chamber and said pumping chamber to supply vapor from said vaporizing chamber to said pumping chamber; conduit means for supplying a liquid to said vaporizing chamber to be vaporized therein; a U-shaped duct connecting said pumping chamber to said condensing chamber; an interconnection between said condensing cham- 'berand the annular portion of said heating chamber; an inter-connection between the annular portion of said heating chamber and said pumping chamber; inlet duct means comprising a check valve for supplying liquid to said condensing chamber; an outlet duct means comprising a check valve in fluid communication with said condensing chamber for delivering liquid therefrom.

8. Thermopump apparatus comprising, in combination: wall means forming a substantially vertical, annular vaporizing chamber with a central cylindrically shaped combustion chamber, a portion of said wall means dening a common cylindrical wall serving as the vertical wall of the combustion chamber and the inner vertical wall of the annular vaporizing chamber; an annular chamber disposed concentrically thereabout and divided by vertical walls therein into rst and second pumping charn- |bers; a chamber having an annular portion secured above said pumping chambers and divided by vertical walls therein into first and second heating chambers and having a central cylindrical portion in uid communication with said combustion chamber; iirst and second con- -densing chambers secured above said heating chambers;

means including a reversing valve for delivering vapor from the Vaporizing chamber alternately to one and then to the other of said first and second pumping chambers; rst and second U-shaped ducts connecting, respectively,

said rst pumping chamber to said first condensing cham- =ber and said second pumping chamber to said second condensing chamber; rst and second lower ducts connecting respectively the lower portion of said lirst pumping chamber to said first heating cham-ber and the lower portion of said second pumping chamber to said second heating chamber; rst and second conduits connecting respectively said rst heating chamber to said first condensing chamber and said second heating chamber to said second condensing chamber; inlet and outlet ducts in iluid communication with said first and second condensing chambers; a check valve in each said inlet and outlet duct; first and second interconnecting ducts connecting Ysaid vaporizing chamber to said iirst and second pumping chamber each having check valves for preventing ow of liquid from said vaporizing chamber; and a burner ar- '8 ranged to release products of combustion in said combustion chamber to supply heat thereto and to direct the products of combustion into the central cylindrical portion of said heating Vchambers thereabove.

9. Apparatus according to claim 4 and comprising a tubular duct extending upward from the top of said vaporizing chamber short of the top of said heating chamber whereby to direct tine gas upwardly through said duct then downwardly adjacent the inner -wall of said annular heating chamber.

10. Apparatus according to claim 8 and comprising a circular Wall spaced from and surrounding said vaporizing chamber to form between said vaporizing chamber and said pumping chamber an air supply chamber; a series of tubular ducts extending through said Vaporizing chamber for supplying air for combustion to said combustion chamber; and means for supplying air to said air supply chamber. g

1l. Apparatus according to claim 8 and comprising an yair limpelleradapted to supply air for combustion to said combustion chamber; a liquid turbine operatively connected to drive said air impeller; and duct means for passing liquid from said outlet ducts through said turbine.

12. Apparatus according to claim 8 yand comprising a pair of semi-circular insulating iioats, one in each of said pumping chambers sized to substantially cover 'the surface of liquid therein, for reducing condensation of vapor in said pumping chambers.

y13. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said means including a reversing valve Iincludes a ball reversing valve having 4a central vapor inlet from said vaporizing chamber and opposing 'outlet-s, alternatively scalable by said ball, leading respectively to said first and second pumping chambers, said central vapor inlet being of less size than said opposing outlets whereby to accelerate movement of said ball during reversing of said ball.

14. Apparatus `according to claim 8 and comprising a vapor distributing manifold in each of said condensing chambers, each .connected to receive vapor from one of said U-shaped ducts and distribute said vapor in said condensing chambers.

References` Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

